I remember listening to a talk by Ram Dass – the American spiritual teacher and author of the book “Be Here Now” – speaking about personal happiness. At the end of the talk, a man in the back of the room frustratingly described a whole laundry list of problems, from financial to personal, he was facing in his life. Before he finished I knew the question he would pose: how can I, with all the difficulties in my life, ever begin to create happiness? How can I, given my challenges, begin to turn things around?
Ram Dass’ answer was so simple that I never forgot it. Once the man, who was almost in tears, finished, Ram Dass waited till the room was again calm and then he quietly said, “You need to serve. You need to help someone.”
I never forgot these words, especially because at times in my life I have taken this same advice. For me it took the form of teaching. This simple act of giving has been incredibly galvanizing for not just my career in Art but also my Life.
[Tweet “”You are good enough already” – Nicholas Wilton”]
I am writing this today in hopes that it might just plant the seed of an idea that this could be something you too could add into your artistic journey. It is that helpful.
What stopped me for years, however, was the limiting belief that I did not know enough to assume the role of a teacher. What I now know is that regardless of how far along you are, even if you are just beginning, that if you stick to teaching specifically what you enjoy and feel the most comfortable in, then there will always be many, many people who are behind you, who are just not as far along, that you could help.
In other words you are good enough already. Start small, even if it is with just one or two students. Charge something, even if it is nominal, but just start by offering your enthusiasm and your guidance. You will be surprised how many people would just love to be helped along.
There are several huge benefits that very quickly emerge once you begin teaching, even if only in the smallest of ways.
1 You build Authority
If you have to regularly explain to someone about an area of your art, then naturally you will become even more familiar and more assured in your abilities as a teacher. In time this becomes expertise and supplies you with a strong platform to build upon so that your knowledge, your teaching, can grow and become more and more effective. Like your Art, your teaching also improves and becomes stronger with doing. Earning legitimate authority will provide you with self-confidence and tremendous momentum to help more and more people. This authority, not surprisingly, then begins to translate back into your own work, making it stronger and more authoritative in turn.
2 You gain Clarity
Teaching invites you to clarify aspects of your Art Practice that probably till now have been fairly nebulous. For myself, this process of repeatedly clarifying and saying out loud has been incredibly helpful for my own art practice. My best work is always made upon returning from teaching a workshop. When you teach you are constantly saying what you believe to be true, that what is possibly just out of reach is in fact, obtainable. By offering out loud what resonates with you and what you believe to be possible for others, the more easily those same concepts and ideas become true for you. Having clarity is simply a prerequisite for achieving all you desire in your Art.
3 You become filled.
Teaching is an act of giving. It takes energy. This fact can sometimes prevent people from assuming the role of a teacher or mentor. From my experience I have always been amazed that the act of teaching does not really deplete your creative energy. For me, it increases it.
I believe that, at least partly, the reason for this increase in creativity has to do with the “universal law of divine compensation”, detailed so eloquently in Marianne Williamson’s book of the same name. The idea that when we give of ourselves, when we look upon those we can help as more of a calling, as part of our creative purpose as an artist – rather than a job – then the universe tends to favor our circumstances. In short, when we give, we also receive. It is the natural course of things that we shall be replenished energetically, financially or in the form of some wonderful unforeseen possibility.
The fear of depletion rarely comes true. Teaching, helping others who are not as far along as you, can build your creative momentum. It certainly has for me. It also has the possibility to invite a greater sense of artistic community into your life. Best of all, however, it just feels plain wonderful to know that you have actually helped someone.
Most importantly, however, it can provide you with that missing surge of creativity, that sense of personal abundance that doubles back into your own art practice, making what once seemed unattainable in your own artistic journey suddenly entirely possible.
What do you do to refresh and reinvigorate your creative energy?
In gratitude, Nicholas
26 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
lovely article! I have been sharing my passion with others through my artwork and teaching for years now. I always learn something new every time I teach a class. I am giving but they give back. I see their excitement and they share their findings which lead me to new inspiration. it’s a beautiful flow of back and forth. at the moment I am feeling a bit shy about moving forward as I just relocated to a new city. where to start? what to offer? I will be exhibiting my work at the local art walk this summer and I am lost as to what to write with regards to describing myself, my art and business. how do you condense that all down to 30 words or less? ha! thank you for sharing all your knowledge and experience! I love watching your videos and hope to someday attend one of your workshops. your work is incredible! ciao!
Try just coming up with key words that resonate with you…then use 5 of them to summarize what you do…thanks and yes love to see you at a workshop someday!
nicholas thank you very much for your guidance with my write up. the 5 key words helped tremendously to focus in on what I wanted to convey. I worked with it and edited and rewrote and finally finished it up for the deadline this past friday. I wanted to share with you what I came up with:
Nadia Munarolo-Kurjata, Maker, Seeker and Guide to Open Doors…
believes:
-in listening to your intuition
-being authentic is beautiful
-practicing art daily is healing
-everyone is an artist
you are incredible for taking time to respond to my comment. I was thrilled and delighted at the advice you gave me. thank you and have a wonderful monday! ciao!
lovely article! I have been sharing my passion with others through my artwork and teaching for years now. I always learn something new every time I teach a class. I am giving but they give back. I see their excitement and they share their findings which lead me to new inspiration. it’s a beautiful flow of back and forth. at the moment I am feeling a bit shy about moving forward as I just relocated to a new city. where to start? what to offer? I will be exhibiting my work at the local art walk this summer and I am lost as to what to write with regards to describing myself, my art and business. how do you condense that all down to 30 words or less? ha! thank you for sharing all your knowledge and experience! I love watching your videos and hope to someday attend one of your workshops. your work is incredible! ciao!
Try just coming up with key words that resonate with you…then use 5 of them to summarize what you do…thanks and yes love to see you at a workshop someday!
nicholas thank you very much for your guidance with my write up. the 5 key words helped tremendously to focus in on what I wanted to convey. I worked with it and edited and rewrote and finally finished it up for the deadline this past friday. I wanted to share with you what I came up with:
Nadia Munarolo-Kurjata, Maker, Seeker and Guide to Open Doors…
believes:
-in listening to your intuition
-being authentic is beautiful
-practicing art daily is healing
-everyone is an artist
you are incredible for taking time to respond to my comment. I was thrilled and delighted at the advice you gave me. thank you and have a wonderful monday! ciao!
I have been teaching workshops for about ten years now and I love it. I don’t think I could ever exist in a “normal” school setting, but I have been lucky enough to teach what I know with others in alternative settings. When I began I didn’t think I was ready, but as you stated I was already prepared. I teach from my personal experience and I find folks are receptive to that. The more I investigate my own work the more I feel a calling to connect with others. Thank you for this post!
I know –I am never ready–it is only looking back that makes me realize I was…
I have been teaching workshops for about ten years now and I love it. I don’t think I could ever exist in a “normal” school setting, but I have been lucky enough to teach what I know with others in alternative settings. When I began I didn’t think I was ready, but as you stated I was already prepared. I teach from my personal experience and I find folks are receptive to that. The more I investigate my own work the more I feel a calling to connect with others. Thank you for this post!
I know –I am never ready–it is only looking back that makes me realize I was…
You couldn’t have been more in tune with my vibration. I just scheduled my first Paint Party with two individuals that I found through my first ever Meet-Up post for spiritually open, creative souls. I’ve had moments of panic, such as, “but I’m not an artist”…but I always come back to the reassurance that my soul called me to do this. Art heals……and sharing my creative passion can do nothing but put positive energy into the world and love into my own little community.
You are on a good track–your thinking is right. Anything that is a step up feels scary at first–bravo
You couldn’t have been more in tune with my vibration. I just scheduled my first Paint Party with two individuals that I found through my first ever Meet-Up post for spiritually open, creative souls. I’ve had moments of panic, such as, “but I’m not an artist”…but I always come back to the reassurance that my soul called me to do this. Art heals……and sharing my creative passion can do nothing but put positive energy into the world and love into my own little community.
You are on a good track–your thinking is right. Anything that is a step up feels scary at first–bravo
Great timing ,I have been thinking about teaching but not knowing how to start.I was asked to teach a workshop
but not confident enough to put the workshop together or even how? I am going to a short one day workshop soon.
My plan is to learn the subject matter as well as the approach and organization ? format? of the instructor.Then take a deep breath and set up a small workshop myself start out small not charge a lot, enough to cover materials
and my time. How does one decide on what to charge for Time when starting out. Thank you for your wonderful
blog and sharing.
Great timing ,I have been thinking about teaching but not knowing how to start.I was asked to teach a workshop
but not confident enough to put the workshop together or even how? I am going to a short one day workshop soon.
My plan is to learn the subject matter as well as the approach and organization ? format? of the instructor.Then take a deep breath and set up a small workshop myself start out small not charge a lot, enough to cover materials
and my time. How does one decide on what to charge for Time when starting out. Thank you for your wonderful
blog and sharing.
Nicholas, Stumbled upon your Caldwell Synder announcement in my studio & received your blog. Love your work, especially loom & fragment. It’s nice to see you expand your art talent to awareness of reciprocity. Nice to bump into you at Famous 4. Enjoying your voice in the arts. kellyannartsalon
Hey thanks—I hope your installation at Famous 4 goes well…Larry cracks me up–clothes shopping will never be the same…Ha
Nicholas, I love seeing all the sold works from your current show. Bravo! Speak about your mentoring? What is it you require? Each year, I work to place my art in new locations, new relations. Do you review art practices?
Famous 4 is a public art op, art in the public eye through 9.2015 & yes it’s a funny place. I hope you shining in your new suit jacket.
Best, Kellyann | Happy Summer! [email protected]
Nicholas, Stumbled upon your Caldwell Synder announcement in my studio & received your blog. Love your work, especially loom & fragment. It’s nice to see you expand your art talent to awareness of reciprocity. Nice to bump into you at Famous 4. Enjoying your voice in the arts. kellyannartsalon
Hey thanks—I hope your installation at Famous 4 goes well…Larry cracks me up–clothes shopping will never be the same…Ha
Nicholas, I love seeing all the sold works from your current show. Bravo! Speak about your mentoring? What is it you require? Each year, I work to place my art in new locations, new relations. Do you review art practices?
Famous 4 is a public art op, art in the public eye through 9.2015 & yes it’s a funny place. I hope you shining in your new suit jacket.
Best, Kellyann | Happy Summer! [email protected]
Thank you for sharing this Nicholas, it is so spot on! This has been my experience as well over the past five years. Hopefully many will read this and embrace it especially those just starting out.
Thank you for sharing this Nicholas, it is so spot on! This has been my experience as well over the past five years. Hopefully many will read this and embrace it especially those just starting out.
Hi Nick, thank you, again… I know that this next thought many have said, or feel the same, and that is that whenever I read or hear your thoughts relating to the art process, it’s as if you are speaking directly to where I am, right at that moment.
As I’m writing this, I am getting ready to co-facilitate a mini retreat on how creative expression can be most potent when it is explored as a direct response to a physical practice, in this case,
mainly yoga. I will be presenting visual art materials and techniques, although I am going to encourage exploration in any area that might surface during the stillness or focusing part of the movement and / or meditation sessions.
I so see how just preparing for just this small gathering, already has reinforced not only some of the most important insights and techniques I’ve acquired from the multitude of classes and workshops I’ve participated in ( especially yours ! ), but yes, I feel a surge of excitement brewing which I cannot wait to see how it will manifest. ~ I’ve already been sketching daily…
But even more important, it does feel really good already, to imagine myself sharing the importance of creating and hopefully I will inspire others to see it as an integrally essential part of their lives as well.
Hi Nick, thank you, again… I know that this next thought many have said, or feel the same, and that is that whenever I read or hear your thoughts relating to the art process, it’s as if you are speaking directly to where I am, right at that moment.
As I’m writing this, I am getting ready to co-facilitate a mini retreat on how creative expression can be most potent when it is explored as a direct response to a physical practice, in this case,
mainly yoga. I will be presenting visual art materials and techniques, although I am going to encourage exploration in any area that might surface during the stillness or focusing part of the movement and / or meditation sessions.
I so see how just preparing for just this small gathering, already has reinforced not only some of the most important insights and techniques I’ve acquired from the multitude of classes and workshops I’ve participated in ( especially yours ! ), but yes, I feel a surge of excitement brewing which I cannot wait to see how it will manifest. ~ I’ve already been sketching daily…
But even more important, it does feel really good already, to imagine myself sharing the importance of creating and hopefully I will inspire others to see it as an integrally essential part of their lives as well.